Coming March 15, 2026:
Flash Fiction:
Memorable Moments–Real & Imaginary
Flash fiction shows readers how the narrator experienced and reacted to a significant, startling, or eye-opening moment–real or imaginary.
Although it can be based on a real or re-imagined moment, it could also be sci-fi, dystopian, or something we haven’t imagined. It can also be something we hope for.
“You are the first professional to offer feedback and your encouraging words have given me additional motivation! It is reassuring to know that I was on the right track; you have a remarkable ability to give constructive feedback in a positive way (and you are absolutely correct). I look forward to submitting more stories and continuing to improve.” –Jamie Fouty
What We’re Looking For:
- a protagonist
- a conflict
- a setting
- excellent use of language
- and an ending that makes a point and/or makes us think.
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Stick to 2-3 characters unless you can make your point using only one character.
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Start late in the story.
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Make every detail–every word–count.
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Let the protagonist change.
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Give readers a reason to care.
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Make descriptions sparkle with verbs and/or nouns.
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Know how you want readers to react.
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Test your writing by having a trusted friend read it to you. Listen for places she or he trips up and fix them.
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Please use a readable font. If we can’t read it, we’ll have to change it. Try Arial or Verdana 14 or 16 if you want the first reader not to struggle.
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Done it all? Please stop judging yourself and submit.
We enjoy stories with a discovery, complex characters, language that engages us, and a tone that rings true. Enlighten, inspire, or dazzle us. Please send us 750-words or less.
If the story feels squeezed at 750-words, don’t force it. There are plenty of journals where you can send your longer pieces. Go to the Contests & Markets page. You’ll find lots of places seeking longer submissions.
PRIZES? PUBLICATION? ABSOLUTELY! for the best 3 to 8 pieces. All can call themselves winners in Writer Advice’s 2026 Flash Fiction Contest. We no longer rank as first, second, and third place.
>>>There are small cash prizes for everyone who is published.
You can find some samples in Prior Winners Look for Flash Fiction
How do you enter? Use the Submittable link right below or the one at the bottom of the page (below endorsements). The contest will open as soon as it’s posted on Submittable and close on June 2 at midnight ET. I’ll post a note at the top of this page when it’s open.
Want to see the rubric that guides us? You’ll find it on the Writing Advice page.
“Great stories often come from the smallest, least flashy places, and being open to the idea that even a dirty sock on the floor can serve as a catalyst for a story means inspiration can truly come from anywhere.” ~~Ani King
Keep reading. There are contestant comments below.
JUDGES: Editor B. Lynn Goodwin consults with former Writer Advice winners as needed.
Submittable will ask for a $5 submission fee which goes towards prizes and an additional $10 if you’d like feedback on what’s working and what might trip readers up. Despite the price of gas, groceries, and everything else, I’m keeping my rates the same, which is my gift to those who enter.
If you prefer to send it directly to me, use the contact box on the home page. I’ll ask you to pay the fee through PayPal or by check, and as soon as I receive the payment, I’ll read your work.
Questions? Please ask.
- If your work is accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
- We prefer unpublished work, though we do accept stand-alone excerpts from work seeking a publisher or agent.
- Please hit the contact button and ask questions if anything is unclear or missing. Thank you!
Names of all winners will be announced on WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com in early June or—worst case–later.
E-mail questions to editor B. Lynn Goodwin using the box at the bottom of the home page. We value your work and look forward to reading it.
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Include your name, contact information, and title on the Submittable form, but include only your title in the actual submission so it remains anonymous. Please leave the header and footer blank.
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Since we judge these anonymously, you don’t need a cover letter that includes more than your contact information. If you are a finalist, we’ll ask for a bio.
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Pleasedouble-space your submission. We recommend that you use a 14-point font that is easy to read. Cambria, Ariel, and Verdana are all good. If you forget, we may fix it for you.
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You own the copyright. If we publish your work, the rights still belong to you, though we ask you not to resubmit to anyone other a publisher or agent until 90 days after it appears on Writer Advice. Please give us credit if it is published elsewhere.
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Simultaneous submissions accepted.
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If your work is accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
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We prefer unpublished work, though we do accept stand-alone excerpts from work seeking a publisher or agent.
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Please hit the contact button and ask questions if anything is unclear or missing. Thank you!
COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS:
Although I’ve received many more kind words since I posted these, I haven’t updated. My interest is in your writing–not promotion, though I have books for sale.
Curious? Please ask.
I appreciate being able to choose where I put my time.
“You reviewed a piece I wrote for the Flash Memoir Contest earlier this year and provided inspirational feedback. Your guidance helped me to improve the piece and my writing, and I’ve had success publishing in part because of your assistance. So thank you. :-)” ~~Rob Rogers
“Thank you for your great advice. I appreciate it and will use it to improve my writing.” –Shelley Malicote
“Your suggestions for improvement rock.” –Shelley Stutchman
“WriterAdvice.com is one of my all-time most reliable and accessible sites for writers. I use it—and recommend it to my clients.” ~Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers (http://howtodoitfrugally.com), poetry and fiction
“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told about the great feedback you give to folks no matter how many entries you get.” –Bill Buschel
“It’s such a refreshing experience to have some exchange — as most submissions disappear into the either like rogue satellites.” –Charles Watts
“Your insights are excellent” –Dan Dubelman
“I learned about this contest from the Submittable page. I then checked out your website and felt comfortable submitting my story as you seem like someone who genuinely wants to help and advise others.” –Roger Yetzer
“I’m always striving to improve my writing, and feedback from editors like you make it much easier to do so.” –Margarite R. Stever
“Many thanks for your response, from it, I can tell you’re very good at what you do.” –Kisa, Visually Versed
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to read and analyze my work . . . It’s not every day a contest gives you comprehensive feedback instead of a simple yes/no!” –Lena Crown
“Thanks for the wonderful feedback, never, never, got that before in thirty years.” –Jenny Hickinbotham
